Simple, flexible and engaging games to teach your child early math skills

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

5 Reasons to Try Doubles

Double the Trouble

Finger Patterns/Doubles Review

A number of readers asked me to explain why doubles and finger patterns are important. Exposing your child to finger patterns and early counting is a crucial developmental step. Current research and theory suggests that "Children's number competence is supported by their daily experiences in the world." (Saxe, et all., 1997) Doing these simple and fun activities with your child will encourage an early awareness to math that includes counting, finger patterns and a new vocabulary.

Doubles are a huge concept. I don't expect my four year old to fully understand it but I am giving him the chance to practice, understand and have fun with doubles before he enters school. Asking a child to fire away a double four can be confusing. The correct response is to fire away a two and a two on each hand. Remember the number you ask them to fire away is the TOTAL, not what they show on each hand.

Five Reasons to Try Doubles

1. Doubles are everywhere. We have doubles built into our bodies. Why not show your child what a double looks like? I have two feet, two sets of five fingers and two sets of five toes.

2. Doubles open the door for more advanced strategies. Doubles are the same as counting by twos. Counting by twos is groundwork for multiplying by two.

3. Children of all ages can talk about doubles. Young children can fire away a double from two to ten while older children can go past ten and do higher doubles mentally or on paper (6+6, 7+7, etc.)

4. Kids love using the word double. My son loves to say it when requesting his favorite food or treat!

5. Doubles encourage children to see numbers as a set or a group and move away from seeing numbers as going one by one.

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Jumbo Cards

Finger Pattern Playing Cards

Available in standard playing card size with forty four cards and six direction cards. Play by color, number or finger pattern depending on ability level. Also in Jumbo size for displaying in classrooms and large group activities. Visit www.arithmakids.com.

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About The Writer

I developed my “Fire Away” method while working with struggling students. I saw them make incredible progress when they fully understood finger patterns, so I introduced finger patterns to my one-year-old son. I did not realize the true power of my method until friends and family commented on my son’s ability to count and flash finger patterns before age three.
I am a Math Recovery Leader and AddVantageMR trainer. I train classroom teachers, instructional coaches and new Math Recovery teachers. In addition to working with students and teachers, my passion is to share my knowledge and experience with parents. I want everyone to understand that a strong basis in mathematics builds confidence in young children and leads to life-long learning.